Management of the diagnosis of Chagas chronic heart disease in the municipalities of the Jutiapa Department

The general objective of this project is to decrease the symptons of the Chagas chronic heart disease (CCC) by an early diagnosis and specific treatment.

Secondary objectives are

1. clinical evaluation and to performa and electrocardiogram (EKG) when the Chagas disease is diagnosed.
2. Annual revision of those cases alreaty diagnosed Centre/Chagas  Clinic with a new EKG.
3. For those patients with alterations in the EKG suggesting CCC, to performan echocardiogram.
4. To follow the established circuits: Health Centre/Chagas Clinic, Jutiapa Departmental Hospital, UNICAR (cardiovascular surgery unit in Guatemala city).
5. An essential activity is the training of doctors and nurses in the managerment of the EKG device and the interpretation of EKG.

The places where we develop these activity at the moment is in the municipalities of Comapa, Yupiltepeque, Zapotitlan, El Adelanto, Jalpatagua and  villages of Jutiapa capital. Those have been chosen by DRISS epidemiological unit following what it was related in de MSPAS Chagas Sub-programme. The Comapa municipality is a particular situation because there is the Chagas Clinic fo those specific Chagas patients, the protocol includes a clinica exploration, EKG and follow up o those with CCC. This is a global attention of good quality.

We hope to have de following results:

1. A first clinical evaluation and annual follow up of Chagas patients.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment of CCC.
3. Competence of medical personnel to indentify clinical symptoms and in the EKG of CCC.
4. To guarantee global and good quality